Latest news with #dietSoda
Medical News Today
02-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
To achieve diabetes remission, avoid diet soda and opt for water
Everyone knows that drinking soda is not a healthy choice, and there is much debate whether diet soda is a healthy alternative. Past research has linked drinking diet sodas to several health risks including type 2 diabetes. A new study has found that women with type 2 diabetes who regularly choose to drink water over diet soda may be more likely to achieve weight loss, as well as diabetes remission. Everyone knows that drinking soda is not a healthy choice, due to its high calorie and sugar content. However, there is much debate about whether or switching to diet sodas is better. Past research has linked drinking diet sodas — which contain sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose — to several health risks, including heart disease, liver disease, kidney issues, weight gain, metabolic syndrome, increased cancer risk, and type 2 diabetes. Now a new study presented at the 85th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has found that women with type 2 diabetes who regularly choose to drink water over diet soda may increase their likelihood to achieve weight loss and diabetes remission. The findings are yet to appear in a peer-reviewed soda is still an ultra-processed foodFor this study, researchers recruited 81 adult women who had both type 2 diabetes and obesity or overweight, and who consumed diet soda as part of their normal diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one-fifth of Americans drink diet sodas on a regular basis. And the amount of diet beverages consumed in the European Union has grown from 23% in 2016 to 30% in 2021. Diet sodas are considered ultra-processed foods due to their manufacturing process and ingredients like additives and artificial sweeteners. Past research has linked ultra-processed foods to an acceleration in biological aging, and a 10% increase in mortality risk.A study published in February 2024 reported a link between ultra-processed food consumption and 32 negative health issues, including colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, sleeping issues, anxiety, asthma, high blood pressure, and Crohn's disease. 90% of women drinking water instead of diet soda reach diabetes remissionStudy participants were randomly grouped to either one group that continued to drink diet soda five times per week after their lunch, and another group that substituted their usual diet soda with water. During the study, participants were also provided with a six-month weight loss intervention, followed by a 12-month weight maintenance the 18 month follow-up, researchers found that participants in the water group experienced a much larger average weight loss when compared to the diet soda group. Additionally, 90% of study participants in the water group reached type 2 diabetes remission, compared to only 45% in the diet soda group. Scientists also reported that participants in the water group experienced significant improvements to a number of health markers, including body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose (blood sugar), insulin resistance, triglycerides, insulin levels, and post-meal glucose response. 'These findings challenge a common belief in the U.S. that diet drinks have no potential negative effects for managing weight and blood sugar,' Hamid R. Farshchi, MD, PhD, CEO of D2Type, former associate professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, in the United Kingdom, and lead author of the study, said in a press release.'However, with most of women in the water group achieving diabetes remission, our study highlights the importance of promoting water, not just low-calorie alternatives, as part of effective diabetes and weight management. It's a small change with the potential for a big impact on long-term health outcomes,' Farshchi substitutes affect the body just like real sugarMedical News Today had the opportunity to speak with Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, about this study. Ali, who was not involved in the research, commented that it provides validation to other studies that have shown sugar substitutes to have a similar effect on the body as actual sugar.'Diabetes is a growing medical concern as the Western population in general becomes more sedentary, eats more processed foods, and as obesity increases,' he told us. 'Any methods to reduce diabetes [are] helpful to combat this disease.''Research comparing types of artificial sweeteners vs sugar may help elucidate the worst choice amongst these types of sweeteners,' Ali added. How can I lower my diet soda intake and drink more water? Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, offered her top tips on how people can lower the amount of diet soda they drink and up their water advised to:make water containers visible and appealing, for example by purchasing 'a glass or stainless steel water bottle and keep it filled at your desk, in your car, or on your counter to remind you to drink up,' and by using 'color, fun ice cubes, or creative containers to make it an appealing part of your routine'make water tasty by flavoring it 'with natural ingredients such as [by] making herbal, caffeine-free teas' or by adding fruit, herbs, or a combination of these to waterset regular reminders to drink waterkeep track of your daily water intaketry 'habit stacking' by pairing the activity of drinking water with other everyday taskshydrate with watery foods like 'fruits, vegetables, soups, smoothies, and broths'try taining your taste buds by forming new habits — you could 'start slowly by decreasing the amount of diet beverages you consume by 25% for 1 to 2 weeks, then try cutting back by 50%'reflect on why you may be craving diet soda.'These simple but effective recommendations are based on biology, but rooted in common sense,' Richard said. 'When we nurture our body with what it naturally needs, we're going to optimize its function versus distract, detract, hinder and undermine it.' 'Hydration is like fiber — it's not flashy, but everything works better with enough of it,' she added. 'Don't wait until you're thirsty, either: Hydration is a progressive and fluid — pun intended — process.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Urge Caution as Study Links This Popular Drink to 2x the Risk of Diabetes
Experts Urge Caution as Study Links This Popular Drink to 2x the Risk of Diabetes originally appeared on Parade. There's nothing quite like a crisp diet soda on a hot day. It's cool, bubbly and somehow so refreshing. Add some lime and you've got a summertime treat. You can even make a dirty soda by adding a little cream. Yum! But a new study is shining light on diet soda's health effects, and they might not be as harmless as they seem. A new study has found that consuming artificially sweetened beverages, which are commonly marketed as the 'healthier' alternative to sugary drinks, could significantly increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers collected data on more than 4,654 adults in the 30-year-long Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. They assessed the diets of participants at the start of the study, then again after seven and 20 years. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Researchers discovered that individuals who consumed the highest amounts of artificially sweetened drinks, like diet sodas or sugar-free flavored waters, were more than twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who rarely drank them. That's a 129% increase in risk, raising serious questions about what we're really sipping on when we go 'sugar-free.'The study adds fuel to the growing debate around artificial sweeteners. Long considered a safer option for those watching their weight or blood sugar, these sugar substitutes may interfere with insulin sensitivity and disrupt gut health, which are two key factors in developing diabetes. While the beverages contain few or no calories, their long-term metabolic effects may not be so benign. Of course, sugary drinks aren't off the hook either. Regular sodas, sweetened teas and energy drinks remain one of the most well-documented contributors to rising diabetes and obesity rates worldwide. Even 100% fruit juices, which many perceive as healthy, can elevate blood sugar when consumed in excess. This new study challenges the widely accepted belief that diet drinks are a safe swap. And while more research is needed to pinpoint exactly how artificial sweeteners may influence insulin response, the evidence so far suggests that moderation—and even reconsideration—is warranted. So, what should you drink instead? Nutrition experts continue to recommend simple, no-frills hydration. Water remains the gold standard, but unsweetened tea and black coffee are also considered safe and beneficial for most people. Infused waters with fruit or herbs can offer a flavorful twist without the potential downsides of sugar or artificial sweeteners. I'm a daily Coke Zero drinker, but after this study, I may be willing to make a change. I do love iced tea!Experts Urge Caution as Study Links This Popular Drink to 2x the Risk of Diabetes first appeared on Parade on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
People Who Drink This Popular Beverage Have 2x the Risk of Diabetes, Study Finds
There's something about a crisp soda on a hot summer day. If you're on a weight loss journey or trying to cut out sugar, it can be tempting to turn to diet drinks to curb your craving. It makes sense, especially given that high amounts of daily sugar have been linked to weight gain, low energy, and possibly a higher risk of cancer. But as it turns out, diet sodas may not be the better option we originally thought. In fact, they may raise your risk of diabetes in a similar way to regular soda, according to a new study. In the study, researchers looked at the data of more than 4,654 adults from the 30-year-long Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. The participants' diets were assessed at the beginning of the study and then again at the seven and 20-year researchers looked at several factors, but mostly the average intake of diet beverages, and artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose. The researchers then broke the participants up based on the amount of substances they ingested. They then looked at the participants' risk of diabetes. In this case, they defined diabetes as having a fasting glucose level higher than 126 mg/dL, glucose of 200 mg/dL or higher after a glucose tolerance test, an A1C above 6.5 percent, or the use of diabetes medications at follow-up visits. Researchers found that individuals who consumed the most diet beverages had a 129 percent higher risk of diabetes compared to those who drank the least. "Higher intakes of diet beverages and saccharin were associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes," the study authors said. "These findings highlight the need to evaluate the long-term metabolic effects of [artificial sweeteners] on glucose metabolism." People Who Drink This Popular Beverage Have 2x the Risk of Diabetes, Study Finds first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 26, 2025
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The controversial drink that may be better than water for weight loss
Popular diet sodas beloved by Donald Trump and Taylor Swift are better for you than water. Well, at least when it comes to losing weight. Recently, videos have circulated on TikTok claiming the hidden sweetener-infused soda benefit — citing year-long studies that found participants drinking two cans of diet soda a day lost twice as much weight as those drinking water. But now nutritionists say there may be some method to the madness, by stating that that anything that can help someone reduce their calorie intake can help with weight loss. This may include diet beverages, they said, which could help someone satisfy sugar cravings — reducing snacking on other calorific snacks. But they warn the drinks likely will not lead to long-term weight loss because they do not solve sugar cravings, which can lead someone to re-gain weight after a diet. Dr Marion Nestle, a top nutritionist at NYU Langone, told the Daily Mail: 'Weight gain is the result of eating more calories than are expended in metabolism and physical activity. Anything that reduce calorie intake, from any source, should help. 'Neither water nor diet sodas have calories, but diet sodas have chemical sweeteners that might encourage eating more food.' She added: 'Studies on the effects of diet soda are mixed. Water, by definition, is neutral.' The speculation on diet sodas vs water for weight loss was sparked by a resurfaced 2015 study that suggested sweetener-infused beverages may boost weight loss. In the paper 303 overweight or obese adults — mostly women in their 40s — were split into two groups and asked to follow a particular diet for a year. One group was asked to drink two cans of diet soda every day, and given coupons for Coca Cola products — including Diet Coke — as well as for Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr Pepper among others. While the others were asked to consume the equivalent amount of water every day over the same period. Participants were also allowed to consume sugar-sweetened beverages and those in the water group could have diet soda too, but had to consume their daily water as well. All participants were put through a weight loss program — involving exercise and diet guidance — for 12 weeks and were then monitored for 40 weeks. At the end of the study, those who were drinking water had lost 5.4lbs overall but those drinking diet sodas had lost 13.7lbs — or double the weight. Researchers said the difference could be down to the sweetened drinks helping reduce cravings for something sweet, helping participants to reduce consumption of sugary foods. But the study had several drawbacks, including that participants were only tracked for a year and it only included people who were already regular diet soda drinkers. Dr David Katz, a dietitian at Yale University in Connecticut, dismissed the study at the time as something of a 'straw man' — saying there were too many limitations for a conclusive result. He pointed out it only included habitual diet soda drinkers, saying it was likely that those drinking water found a way to indulge their sweet tooth in some other way — adding more calories to the diet. This differs from habitual water drinkers, he suggested, who may not have a sweet tooth and could lose weight faster. Nearly a decade later, the study was repeated — by another group of researchers at Liverpool University, in the UK. Like the first, it found those drinking the diet sodas lost 16.5lbs, or about 23 percent more, than those drinking water, who lost 16.5lbs. But unlike the first study, the results were not significant — meaning another factor had a role. The researchers had included people who regularly drank diet sodas, but also about one in four participants did not regularly consume them prior to the trial. Experts suggest this could mean that more people on the water diet did not have strong sweet-food cravings, leading them to consume less food overall. Diet sodas have been the focus of mountains of research on whether they can help to boost weight loss, although concrete evidence to back this up has been scant. Instead, researchers have raised concerns over the sweeteners used within them — like aspartame, used in Diet Coke, which has been labeled a possible carcinogen. While studies have also warned that consuming the sodas regularly can raise someones risk of type 2 diabetes. They say this is because the sweetener used, saccharin, can interfere with how the body interprets insulin — raising the risk of complications. The science is still very much unclear on whether diet sodas could help someone lose weight more quickly than if they drunk water. The World Health Organization has indicated that much of the data in this area is poor, with trials typically only lasting three months or less. Some reviews of studies have warned that consuming too much diet soda can have long-term negative health effects, including impaired glucose metabolism and increased risk of comorbidities. And others have found little impact on weight loss from consuming diet soda instead of water — including a 2022 meta-analysis of 17 studies which found sweetener-infused beverages offered only a 'small improvement' in body weight. Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian for MyHealthTeam in Canada, said: 'Choosing diet soda instead of water could reinforce a preference for sweet flavors, which may affect appetite regulation or lead to seeking out other sweet foods. 'In contrast, water tends to promote a more neutral palate and a natural connection with thirst and hunger cues. Over time, these could influence someone's relationship with food and overall lifestyle.' She added: 'There's also growing research that artificial sweeteners could negatively alter the gut microbiome. Gut microbiome health is associated with weight, where gut imbalances could be playing a factor in obesity and make weight loss more difficult.'
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Diet soda shockingly linked to devastating disease that kills 100,000 Americans each year
Diet soda might no longer be a healthier option after all. A new study found people who regularly drink the diet alternatives have more than double the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to people who reach for full-sugar beverages. And artificial sweeteners may be to blame. The scientists found that high intake of saccharin - a common zero-calorie artificial sweetener found in diet drinks - could be the main risk factor for the chronic illness, which is suffered by 37 million Americans. The FDA approved the use of saccharin as a zero-calorie alternative to sugar in various foods and beverages in 1977. But saccharin is at least 300 times sweeter than regular sugar and researchers now believe excess consumption may interfere with the body's natural process of utilizing glucose - a sugar the body uses for energy. Based on their findings, study author Lyn Steffen recommended 'limiting the use of any sweetener' and suggested choosing 'unsweetened water, coffee, tea, milk or a small amount of 100 percent fruit juice' for beverages. The researchers examined the diets of 4,654 adults between 1985 to 2015. The participants' average intake of artificial sweeteners, diet beverages, aspartame (a low-calorie artificial sweetener) and sucralose (a synthetic artificial sweetener) were measured in the first year, seventh year and Year 20. The study did not include people who regularly or occasionally drink full sugar sodas. Based on their results, the participants were divided into groups to determine their probability of developing Type 2 diabetes. During this 30-year period, 691 participants developed diabetes. Results showed that the participants who consumed the most diet sodas in the 30 year period had a 129 percent greater chance of developing diabetes than those who barely drank any diet beverages. Additionally, the researchers also found that those who drank sodas loaded with saccharin such as fountain Diet Coca Cola, Diet Dr Pepper and Tab had a 110 percent increased risk of diabetes. No link was found between diabetes and aspartame or sucralose. The observational study did not determine the reason why artificial sweeteners may lead to Type 2 diabetes. However, the researchers believe that consuming excessive diet sodas with artificial sweeteners that are overall much sweeter than real sugar may interfere with the body's metabolism process and lead to excess sugar in the bloodstream. According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 36 grams or 150 calories of sugar per day while women should consume no more than 25 grams or 100 calories of sugar per day. However, an 8oz can of Sprite Zero contains 50 mg artificial sweeteners, Coke Zero contains 58 mg and Pepsi Max has 77 mg. Along with this, Diet Pepsi and Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi both contain 111 mg and 118 mg, respectively while Diet Dr Pepper has a shocking 123 mg of artificial sweeteners. Both Diet Coke and Caffeine-Free Coke have 125 mg of artificial sweeteners too. Excess sugar consumption can pave the way for weight gain, high blood pressure, heart disease and insulin resistance, which can cause Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition and over 37 million American adults suffer from this form of the chronic illness. The CDC reports that over 100,000 Americans die of diabetes every year. It is caused by either the pancreas not producing enough insulin - a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels - or the body's cells not responding properly to insulin. When you eat sugar, your body breaks it down into glucose, which the enters your bloodstream for energy absorption. To regulate blood sugar levels, the pancreas releases insulin, which helps glucose enter your cells for energy. But consuming excessive amounts of sugar can make the body resistant to insulin, meaning it can't effectively use the insulin to lower blood sugar. This leads to high blood sugar levels and a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, which can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.
